Assorter for filing-cabinets.



W. E. ROSENBAUM.

ASSORTER FOR FILING CABINETS.

APPLICATlON FILED JULY 5. I912.

1,179,867. Patented Apr. 18,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET L W. E. ROSENBAUM. I ASSORTER FOR FILING CABINETS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5. i912.

Patented 18, 1916.

3 S SSH.EET 2- W. E. ROSENBAUM.

ASSORTER FOR FILING CABINETS.

APPLICATION FILED 1ULY5H6912.

1,179,867. Patent-ed Apr. 18, 1916.

WILLIAM E. ROSENBAUM, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ASSORTER FOR FILING-CABINETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Application filed July 5, 1912. Serial No. 707,910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM E. Rosen- BAUM, a citizen of the United States, resid ing in the cityof St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Assorters for Filing-Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

The primaryobject of this invention is to provide this cabinet with improved means for filing or putting away files in their proper cells or drawers after the files have been stacked up on a table adjacent the cabinet.

Another object is to provide this cabinet with a loading table and means adjacent the table for carrying the files in the cabinet and depositing the files in their proper inclividual receptacles.

Other and further objects will appear in the specification, and be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings exemplifying the invention, and in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of this improved filing cabinet, the front and rear portions being broken away and shown in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the upper portion of the cabinet, showing the loading end. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line LIV-IV, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the files with improved attachments mounted thereon to enable the file to be carried into the cabinet and to be dropped into its respective place. Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line VIVI, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line VII-VII, Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a view of one of the plates, with projections thereon, that is fastened on the back of the files which enables the file to be deposited in its proper place. Fig. 9 is a similar view to Fig. 8, but showing two sets of projections thereon.

Referring to the drawings: 1 designates the filing cabinet having an upper runway or tunnel 2, and a lower filing compartment 3, said filing compartment being divided by a series of partitions 4 forming a series of cells 5; said runway 2 and filing compartment 3 being divided by the metallic platform 6.

Mounted on the-front of the filing cabinet is a' supporting bracket 7 supporting spur gears 8, said spur gears being mounted on stub shafts 9 and 10, the stub shaft 9 carry ing the handle 11. The spur gears 8 are in mesh with each other, one of said spur gears forming an intermediate gear and meshing with a gear 12 which is mounted on the shaft 13, said shaft being mounted in the supporting bearing 7 and in the extension brackets 14.

Mounted in the extended ends of the brackets 14 is a shaft 15 which supports a roller 16, around which is mounted belts 17, said belts deriving their motion from the roller 18 mounted on the shaft 13. Mounted on the end of the shaft 13, adjacent the gear 12, is a bevel gear 19 meshing with another bevel gear 20, said gear 20 being mounted on the forward end of a horizontal shaft 21. The shaft 21 is journaled in bearings 22 mounted on one of the side walls of the filing cabinet 1. Mounted on the shaft 21, on the opposite end to the bevel gear 20, is a sprocket 23 on which is mounted a sprocket chain 24, said chain 24 giving power to the sprocket 25 mounted on the rear end of a spiral shaft 26. Said spiral shaft 26 is mounted on one of the inner side walls of the runway or tunnel 2 in the bearings 27.

Mounted on the opposite inner wall of the runway, and oppositely disposed from the spiral shaft 26, is another spiral shaft 28 mounted in bearings 29. Said spiral shaft 28 has mounted on its rear end a bevel gear 30, said bevel gear 30 meshing with its match bevel gear 31, which is mounted on one end of a shaft 32, said shaft being mounted from the end walls of the runway by the bearings 33. Mounted on this shaft 32, on the opposite end to the bevel gear 31, is a bevel gear 34 meshing with its match bevel gear 35,

said gear 35 being mounted on the end of the spiral shaft 26 adjacent the sprocket 25. Formed in the platform 6 of the filing cabinet are a series of rectangular openings 36 which are arranged transversely. Each of these openings 36 has pairs of notches 37, said notches being oppositely disposed to each other, each pair of notches in each opening being in staggered relation to each other.

As shown in Fig. 5, the files to be used with this improved construction of filing cabinet are provided with improved means to make them cooperable with the operating mechanism for carrying the files along in the runway or tunnel, and also for allowing the files to be dropped in their proper cells. Mounted on the backs of the files is a plate 38, which is secured thereto by the rivets 39. Oppositely disposed to each other on opposite sides of said plate are projections 40.

Mounted on the front and back covers of the files, adjacent their top and bottom ends and at a point about the middle of the width ofthe file, are engaging plates 41 having an engaging portion 42 and depending engaging fingers 43. Extending horizontally from the front portion of the file cabinet 1 and in horizontal alinement with the platform 6 are bars 44, one of said bars being located between the belts 17, and the other of said bars being located adjacent the outside edges of said belts. These bars, along with the belt 17 and rollers 16 and 18, constitute the loading table or platform on which the files are mounted when it is clesired to put said files away in their respective places. The forward bearings 29 of the spiral shafts-26 and 28 have mounted from their underside brackets 45, each of said brackets-supporting a horizontal outstanding grooved trackway 46.

In the operation of this improved device, if it is desired to file away a number of files, the files, equipped with the attachments, as shown best in Fig. 5, are mounted with their backs downwardly on the loading table, the plates 38 being mounted on the backs of the files rest on the belts 17 and horizontal bars 44. The engaging pins 43, which are mounted on the engaging plates 44, engage the grooves of the tracks 46 which will keep the files in an upright position. Then the operator will engage the operating handle 11, and by turning said handle, power will be applied to the forward roller 18 thus giving travel to the belts 17 which will carry the files toward the runway or tunnel 2. The bevel gear 19 which is mounted on the shaft 13 will give power to the shaft 21 through the bevel gear 20 and the sprocket mounted on the opposite end of the shaft 21 having the chain 24 mounted thereon and engaging the sprocket 25 of the spiral shaft 26. Then, the shaft 32, deriving power from the spiral shaft 26 through the bevel gears 35 and 34, will transmit power to the opposite spiral shaft 28 through the-gears 31 and 30. The location of the engaging plates 41 on the files permits them to be engaged by the spiral shafts 26 and 28 as they enter the tunnel. The threads of the spiral shafts 26 and 28, of course being rightand left-hand, respectively, and the surface travel of the belt 17 and the spiral travel of the spiral shafts being the same, it is readily seen how the engaging plates of the files will readily engage the spiral threads of the shaftsirltheir pro er traveling relation. As the engaging plates engage the spiral threads, the engaging fingers 43 will leave the tracks 46 and the files will then be held in upright position by the engaging plates engaging between the threads. As the files are carried forward, the plates 38 fastened on the backs of the files will slide along the platform 6 and over the openings 36 until the projections 40 of the plate 38 will coincide during the travel of the file with a pair of notches 37, which notches are in alining relation to the projections of the plates of their respective files. lVhen any one of said files, by reason of the projections on the plates of said files, alines with its respective pair of notches, said file will drop down through its proper opening into the proper cell or drawer. By a continued manipulation of the handle 11, all

of the files will be carried on through the tunnel until the projections on said file coincide with their respective notches in their respective depositing openings.

As shown best in Fig. 3, the engaging relation of the engaging plates 41 with the spiral shafts 26 and 28 is merely to carry or slide the files along the platform 6. When the file coincides with its proper depositing opening, the engaging plates of the files immediately drop out from their engaging relation with the spiral shafts.

In the construction of the plate shown in Fig. 9, there are two sets of projections 47, which is merely to show that any desired type and number of projections can be designed on these plates. The same type and alining of notches can be formed in the openings 36 so as to give the best design of plate and projections to enable the files to slide and travel conveniently over the depositing openings 36 in which depositing openings they are not intended to be deposited.

. If it is desired to apply motor power to this device in place of the hand power shown, this can be readily done by connecting a motor to the hand power shaft. The intention of this improved device is to construct a filing cabinet on such lines that the filing away of files can be done on mechanical and positive lines, which can be done by the embodiment shown through the cooperatable relation of the improved attachments mounted on the files, enabling the files to be carried in and deposited when said files come in contact with their coinciding depositing openings. 7

It is well known in the filing systems of to-day where the files are left in charge of an office boy that through carelessness files are deposited in the wrong places, and in order to find a lost file, very often the entire filing cabinet has to be checked over. Whereas, in this improved filing device, with positive andmechanical means, misp-l-acing: of fileswill be done away with.

What I claim is:

1. In a filing cabinet, the combination of a runway, and a depositing chamber, means located along each side of said runway for carrying files'along said runway, means adjacent said runway and depositing chamber for allowing said files to be deposited in their proper places in said depositingchamber from said runway, means mounted on opposing edges of each file forengagement with said file carrying means, and electing means carried by each of said files so each individual file can elect its proper place of deposit.

2. In a filing cabinet, the combination of a runway and a depositing chamber, means located in said runway for carrying files into said runway, means adjacent said run way and depositing chamber for depositing said files in their proper places in said depositing chamber from said runway and means carried by said files for engaging said runway carrying means.

3. In a filing cabinet, the combination of a stacking table, a runway, and a depositing chamber, said stacking table located adjacent said runway, means adjacent said stacking table for moving files from said table to said runway, means for holding each file in a vertical position, means located in said runway for moving said files in their vertical position along said runway, means formed adjacent said runway and depositing chamber for depositing the files in their individual places in said depositing chamber,

and electing means carried by each of said files so each individual file can elect its proper place of deposit.

4. In a filing cabinet, the combination of a stacking table, a runway, and a depositing chamber, said table being for the reception of files that are to be deposited in said chamber, means for upholding files in a vertical position on said table, means for moving files from said table to and along said runway in their vertical positions, and means formed in said runway for allowing files to be deposited in their respective places in said chamber.

5. In a filing cabinet, aplatform located in said cabinet, said platform dividing said cabinet into two compartments one of said compartments forming a runway and the other a depositing compartment, means 10 cated in said platform for allowing files to be deposited in said depositing compartment while said files are being carried along said platform by carrying means located in said runway, said files adapted to be engaged at their ends by said carrying means.

6. In a filing cabinet, the combination of a platform located in said cabinet, a stacking table located adjacent said platform, said platform dividing said cabinet into two compartments, one of said compartments forming a runway and the other a depositing compartment, means located in said runway for carrying files from said stacking table into said runway, means located in said platform for allowing files to be deposited in their respective places in said depositing compartment while said files are being carried through said runway.

7. In a filing cabinet, the combination of a platform located in said cabinet, said platform dividing said cabinet into two compartments, one of said compartments forming a runway and the other a depositing compartment, means located adjacent said cabinet for moving said files along said run way, said platform having a series of openings formed therein for allowing files to be dropped therethrough into said depositing compartment as said files are being carried along said runway, electing means mounted on said files so that each individual file can elect its proper opening when said files are carried along said platform to said opening,

said openings forming means for disengaging said files from said file moving means.

8. In a filing cabinet, a platform located in said cabinet, said platform dividing said cabinet into two compartments, one of said compartments forming a runway and the other a depositing compartment, said platform having. a series of openings formed therein, an opening located in the forward end of said runway for the reception of files to be filed, means located adjacent the inner walls of said runway for moving said files therethrough, cooperable means mount ed on said files for cooperating with the moving-in means located adjacent the inner walls of said runway, cooperable means mounted on each file so that each file will 00- operate with its opening in said platform and be deposited in its proper place.

9. In a filing cabinet, the combination of a stacking table, a runway and a depositing chamber, said stacking table located adjacent said runway, means adjacent said stacking table for moving files from said table to said runway, means located in said runway for moving said files along said runway, and means formed adjacent said runway and depositing chamber for depositing the files in their individual places in said depositing chamber.

10. In a filing cabinet, a platform, a plurality of compartments located beneath said platform, an opening formed in said platform above each of said compartments, said platform being for the reception of files to be deposited in said compartments, means for moving said files over said platform, means carried by said files for engagement with said file moving means, said file carried means adapted to prevent said files from falling from an approximate vertical position and means carried by each of said files for electing the proper opening through which a file can pass to its respective compartment.

11. In a filing cabinet, a platform, a depositing chamber located beneath said platform, places of discharge formed in said platform, a file to be deposited in said chamber, means for moving said file over said platform, an electing member caried by said file, said electing member of said file adapted to be cooperable with one of said places of discharge in said platform, said file adapted to travel along said platform until it reaches its place of discharge, said file moving means adapted to support, as well as move said file along said platform.

12. A file for automatic filing cabinets having an electing member secured to the back thereof, said electing member adapted to pass through one of a series of depositing openings.

13. In a filing cabinet, a stacking table adjacent said cabinet, means adjacent said table for holding files in a vertical position, and means for carrying files in their vertical positions from said table and depositing them in their respective places in said cabinet.

14. In a filing cabinet, the combination of a runway and a depositing compartment, of a stacking table located adjacent said runway, means adjacent said runway for allowing files to be deposited in said compartment in their respective places while said files are traveling along said runway, and supporting means for holding files in said vertical position on said table.

M. C. HAMMON, H. G. FLETCHER.

(-opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

